7 Amazing ways to naturally colour hair at home
This article explains the use of natural hair dyes to change hair colour. Grey hair dye such as tea, henna and sage conceals grey hair whereas juice of tomato, carrot, beetroot bring reddish tint to the hair.
Introduction
Some of us colour hair to cover the greys while others do it to change the shade. Whatever may be the reason, many of us have tried to do it at some point in our lives. Some of us have done it at home. Others have got it done from parlours or salon. Teenagers often use a temporary colour spray to get that fancy look. We change hair colour as it is the best way for us to bring a change in our look. We need to understand that hair dyes or hair colours come with toxic chemicals such as parabens and ammonia. These chemicals may damage our hair and cause lots of hair problems in which dryness and hair fall tops the list. Thus, we need to adopt safe methods and make use of natural ingredients. Natural products help us enhance our existing shade. There exist natural products and amazing ways to naturally lighten hair at home. Below-mentioned is some natural ways to colour hair which is a safe alternative to colouring hair using commercially available hair dyes.Natural hair dyes to colour hair
Tea is the best natural ingredient to get a darker shade. Those who like to flaunt dark hair and those who wish to cover their grey hair should make use of this amazing ingredient. There are different types of teas for different hair shade. If the aim is to darken the shade, use black tea. Use chamomile tea to make the existing hair colour lighter in shade. Tea improves the appearance of reddish hair. Thus, those who have reddish hair or those who like to get a red tint on their hair can use it. The higher the concentration and longer the application time, the better will be the effect. One can repeat the applications until the desired shade is obtained. Boil some tea and let it cool down. Apply the decoction on hair and let it sit for at least an hour. Tea does no harm to hair and thus, it can be even left on hair overnight and can be rinsed the next morning. Wear a protective cap to prevent soiling of clothes and pillowcase.
Tannins present in coffee change the colour of hair and make it darker in shade. It can also cover grey hair. If coffee beans are available, grind them in a grinder or by using a mortar and a pestle. Otherwise, the coffee powder can also be used. Brew coffee powder in water. Mix it in hair conditioner. Preferably, use a leave-in conditioner. Apply the mix on hair and wait for an hour. Rinse with water. If mixing in regular conditioner, apply it after shampooing and rinsing hair with water. Let the conditioner and coffee mixture sit on hair for 15 minutes before rinsing with water. Coffee can dye hair 1 or 2 shades darker. We can safely repeat the procedure until we get the shade of our choice. It is not a permanent solution to hair colouring. The shade that is obtained will lighten after repeated washing. However, it is one of the best and safest way to naturally colour hair. Moreover, it is cheap, and coffee is easily available.
Henna has been used since ancient times to naturally dye hair. Not only it serves as a plant-based hair colouring option but also conditions hair deeply offering lustre and smoothness to it. Prepare a paste by mixing henna with water. It should not be a runny paste, otherwise, it will keep dripping from hair. It should have a consistency of mashed potatoes so that it easily sits on hair strands. Let the mixture stand overnight and keep it covered. Keeping it in iron utensil enhances the colour of henna. In the morning, add some more water and adjust the consistency. Apply it on hair for three hours. Rinse with water and do not shampoo or condition. Apply henna alone if the aim is to cover grey or white hair. It produces an orange-red tint on hair. When applying on dark hair colour such as black, add some chamomile tea to it to offer reddish-brown tone to the hair.
Who might have thought that walnut shells which we usually consider as waste can be used to darken hair colour? Use this natural hair dye and naturally obtain dark brown tinge on hair. Start the process by crushing a few of them depending on the hair length. Boil the crushed ones in water for 30 minutes. If the walnut powder is available, use it. Let the solution cool. Strain it and apply to the hair. The longer the boiling time, stronger will be the dye. Let the volume be reduced to 1/4th of the original solution to make an intense hair colouring dye. It is a strong solution and thus be careful while applying as it may stain whatever it comes in contact with. Those who only wish to cover their white or grey hair can limit its application to those areas. Use a cotton ball for the purpose. Dip it in dye and cover the greys. Let the dye remain on hair for an hour before rinsing with water.
Carrot and beetroot are the two vegetables that can be used to obtain reddish shades on hair strands. Carrot juice will offer reddish-orange colour whereas beetroot juice will give a more reddish look to hair. Combine their juices to get a tint of both red and orange. Extract a cup of juice or more depending on hair length. Evenly cover hair and wear a head wrap to prevent staining of clothes. Let the juice work on hair for an hour before rinsing it with water. Repeat the process the next day or as and when required until the desirable reddish shade is obtained. Also, if wish for a richer red shade, go for tomato juice. Extract some tomato juice and apply it on hair using fingers or hairbrush. Cover hair with a shower cap. Let the juice remain on hair for half an hour. Rinse with water and see the difference in hair colour.
Sage is effective in concealing grey and changing hair shades. Boil a handful of dry sage in some water for half an hour. Let the solution cool down. Strain it. Apply on hair. Let the solution remain on hair for half an hour before rinsing with water. To obtain a stronger dye, boil the solution for a long time. It is not a quick fix to change the shade. This process requires time and patience as one will start noticing the change in shade only after a few applications. Repeat the process to obtain the desired shade. Fresh or dried sage can be used. This natural hair dye darkens or deepens hair shade. Thus, it is the best option to be used as a grey hair dye.
Many herbs can be used to change the colour of hair. Choose the suitable ones, and naturally change the shade without facing any ill-effects. However, one may not notice a change after the very first application. Change takes place slowly and gradually after a few applications. Herbs such as rosehips, marigold, and hibiscus can intensify redness. These herbs are excellent for those who have red hair and want to deepen it. Those who have dark hair should choose herbs such as sage and rosemary. When it comes to hiding grey or white hair, rhubarb root is a perfect choice. These flowers or herbs should be simmered in water for half an hour. Cool and strain the solution before applying to hair. Either apply it on hair or spray it by pouring in a spray bottle. Let it remain on hair for some time before rinsing with water.Tips for using natural hair colours